LIberals Bar Men From

[jdobbin]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national...88214fa&k=31296

“We’re trying to find the techniques that are consistent with our democratic processes to the greatest extent possible,” said Gerard Kennedy, Dion’s special adviser on election readiness.

Local riding associations are being encouraged as much as possible to find women to seek nominations. But, with an election possible as early as next month, Kennedy said the party simply doesn’t have the luxury of a lengthy recruitment drive.

Consequently, he said the party will have to use more drastic measures to ensure a sufficient number of women wind up on the Liberal election roster.

“We’re still studying and discussing some of the techniques that we might use, such as women-only contests or what have you. But I think those measures will be somewhat exceptional,” he said.

Dion will have to be careful how he goes about this so that it doesn't alienate local ridings. However, recruitment is something that Dion very much has to take a hand in otherwise, he will face the same problems that Harper had which was finding a balance that covers gender, experience and the like.

[Drea]

Canada has dismal record of female participation in federal politics. Only 20.8 per cent of 308 MPs are women, putting Canada in 46th place in the world — right behind Singapore.

Why is this?

Why do Canadian women not enter politics?

Can you say...o-l-d-b-o-y-s-c-l-u-b.

[scribblet]

Canada has dismal record of female participation in federal politics. Only 20.8 per cent of 308 MPs are women, putting Canada in 46th place in the world — right behind Singapore.

Why is this?

Why do Canadian women not enter politics?

Can you say...o-l-d-b-o-y-s-c-l-u-b.

Can you say - they don't want to, or have other things they prefer to do.

This is wrong, if I were a guy denied a chance to run I'd take it to the courts.

[guyser]

Canada has dismal record of female participation in federal politics. Only 20.8 per cent of 308 MPs are women, putting Canada in 46th place in the world — right behind Singapore.

Why is this?

Why do Canadian women not enter politics?

Can you say...o-l-d-b-o-y-s-c-l-u-b.

I find that number to be suprisingly higher than I would have thought.

No drea, it doesn't have anything to do with........

1)moving away from home ?

2) not wanting to live in a fish bowl

3) not wanting to leave the kids every month for 3 weeks?

[August1991]

Why do Canadian women not enter politics?

Can you say...o-l-d-b-o-y-s-c-l-u-b.

That argument won't wash anymore, if it ever did.

The old boys network doesn't stop women from entering the real estate business, or forming a majority of new students in medical faculties - to pick two examples.

If there are few women in politics, I'd look for another explanation.

[jdobbin]

Why is this?

Why do Canadian women not enter politics?

Can you say...o-l-d-b-o-y-s-c-l-u-b.

It was a woman who recruited me to run for office.

[geoffrey]

This is terrible. The feminists are really taking control now, putting affirmative action into our most sacred institutions.

When MP's are decided on sex and race before all else, we've got alot to worry about in how PC our country has become.

[scribblet]

I agree, political correctness is trumping democracy.

Can you imagine if a party had said it wouldn't allow any, for example, Muslims to run, there'd be a big stink.

[jdobbin]

Personally, I don't have a problem with Dion recruiting people to run based on experience, gender or any other requirement he might see fit. I think it would be foolish to state what sort of numbers based on gender he will recruit. And he should try to make sure that the local ridings are okay with it.

[blueblood]

This is terrible. The feminists are really taking control now, putting affirmative action into our most sacred institutions.

When MP's are decided on sex and race before all else, we've got alot to worry about in how PC our country has become.

Somebody in the MSM needs to speak up about this, roast the feminists and then get inducted into the order of Canada for bringing common sense back into the country.

[gc1765]

Banning people from running is undemocratic. I'm all for encouraging women to become more interested in politics, and running for office, but preventing men from running is not the way to do it.

[geoffrey]

Somebody in the MSM needs to speak up about this, roast the feminists and then get inducted into the order of Canada for bringing common sense back into the country.

Perhaps we shouldn't blame the feminists, they haven't called for this. I think this could be another case of the self-guilt culture of the left in Canada. "It's all our fault, so we need to bend to everyone else to be morally o.k.," type attitude.

[blueblood]

Somebody in the MSM needs to speak up about this, roast the feminists and then get inducted into the order of Canada for bringing common sense back into the country.

Perhaps we shouldn't blame the feminists, they haven't called for this. I think this could be another case of the self-guilt culture of the left in Canada. "It's all our fault, so we need to bend to everyone else to be morally o.k.," type attitude.

The attitude that is costing taxpayers billions upon billions of dollars.

[ClearWest]

Even if the better-qualified candidate happens to be a man? Oh well, I guess it'll mean he'll have a lot of less-qualified people running for him. With any luck it'll backfire on him and they'll lose a lot of seats. Then perhaps they'll realize that indiscriminate competition is the best way to go.

[geoffrey]

Even if the better-qualified candidate happens to be a man? Oh well, I guess it'll mean he'll have a lot of less-qualified people running for him. With any luck it'll backfire on him and they'll lose a lot of seats. Then perhaps they'll realize that indiscriminate competition is the best way to go.

It's not only the best way to go. It's the only morally acceptable way to go. Let the best person win, man or woman.

[jdobbin]

It's not only the best way to go. It's the only morally acceptable way to go. Let the best person win, man or woman.

A political party needs to be able to pick and choose who it wants. It can have elections to a point but the leader should not be under any obligation to accept the candidate the riding chooses. Nor is the riding obligated to vote for the the candidate the leader selects.

It might sound unfair but there you have it.

It isn't unlike how Harper has to recruit candidates or select people for cabinet positions.

[blueblood]

Hence why I loathe political parties. Put them all as independants and may the best person win.

[geoffrey]

I understand your point dobbin, but I have to disagree when it comes to equality rights violations, a political party is essientially an aspect of the government so is subject to the Charter. Women are not a minority group by the way.

If a party believes that Arabs for instance are underrepresented, I'm sure not many Canadians would agree with an Arab requirement of some ridings. It's ridiculous. Such is enforcing mandatory women only ridings.

I think if Dion wishes to pursue such a policy, he should be the first man to sacrifice his seat to a woman... preferably Sheila Copps.

[jdobbin]

I understand your point dobbin, but I have to disagree when it comes to equality rights violations, a political party is essientially an aspect of the government so is subject to the Charter. Women are not a minority group by the way.

If a party believes that Arabs for instance are underrepresented, I'm sure not many Canadians would agree with an Arab requirement of some ridings. It's ridiculous. Such is enforcing mandatory women only ridings.

I think if Dion wishes to pursue such a policy, he should be the first man to sacrifice his seat to a woman... preferably Sheila Copps.

The composition of political parties are not subject to the Charter. I think any political party that assumes to be as aspect of the government is sadly mistaken. It is simply a mechanism for for selecting government and opposition representatives.

What we are discussing here is optics. Dion will have to thread the needle carefully when recruiting candidates.

[geoffrey]

Do you think he'd be willing to surrender his seat if challenged by a prominent woman, like Sheila?

[BC_chick]

I agree, political correctness is trumping democracy.

Can you imagine if a party had said it wouldn't allow any, for example, Muslims to run, there'd be a big stink.

If Muslims made up a disproportionate number of MPs, then you could make that comparison.

[geoffrey]

If Muslims made up a disproportionate number of MPs, then you could make that comparison.

I don't think this is an oppression issue BC Chick, I simply don't think women are in general that interested in politics to devote their lives to it. Of course there are exceptions, and you see those in the House of Commons.

A woman and a man have all equal rights in winning a nomination, it's simply up to the riding to pick who they like, many times it's a woman. Other times it's a man.

I think making the nomination process more democratic would end the claims that it's an old boy's club and let the best possible people represent us, man or woman.

[jdobbin]

Do you think he'd be willing to surrender his seat if challenged by a prominent woman, like Sheila?

Are they asking sitting MPs to surrender their seats?

[BC_chick]

If Muslims made up a disproportionate number of MPs, then you could make that comparison.

I don't think this is an oppression issue BC Chick, I simply don't think women are in general that interested in politics to devote their lives to it. Of course there are exceptions, and you see those in the House of Commons.

A woman and a man have all equal rights in winning a nomination, it's simply up to the riding to pick who they like, many times it's a woman. Other times it's a man.

I think making the nomination process more democratic would end the claims that it's an old boy's club and let the best possible people represent us, man or woman.

I don't disagree with what you say, I just found the whole comparison to banning Muslims a little over the top.

[geoffrey]

I don't disagree with what you say, I just found the whole comparison to banning Muslims a little over the top.

Absolutely. But enforcing Muslim only ridings would be a comparable situation. Equally unacceptable.